Welcome to the 2015 APA Minnesota State Conference. The 2015 conference will be held at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota from September 23rd to 25th.

THE RFP FOR SESSION PROPOSALS FOR THE APA MN STATE CONFERENCE IN BEMIDJI HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL FRIDAY, MARCH 27, AT 6:00 PM.

The conference theme is Heading North: Crossing the Currents of Planning. The conference theme focuses on advancing Minnesota - paying tribute to the efforts to reposition the state as the North, instead of the Midwest - and reflects the host community's location and role as a regional center in northern Minnesota. Bemidji is derived from an Ojibwe phrase meaning flowing through or across. In one respect, the "Crossing Currents" theme reflects the local community heritage; but in a larger context, the theme reflects the currents of planning - sustainability, resiliency, innovation, healthy living, the new economy, and demographic changes. This year's conference will focus on how these currents flow through every aspect of planning today, just as the nearby Mississippi River begins its journey by flowing north.

In addition, the awards committee is accepting nominations for the annual APA-Minnesota Chapter planning awards. The nomination deadline is May 15, 2015, except for outstanding student project and Gunnar Isberg Scholarship nominations are due June 1, 2015.

The conference planning is well underway, and the Conference Planning Committee is pleased to announce that the Request for Proposals process for presentations at the conference has been opened. There are three RFPs: one for general conference sessions, one for speed planning sessions, and one for mobile tours. The deadline for proposal submissions is Friday, March 27, 2015.